Reflections for Easter

As we move towards the end of our Easter season, our readings remain on the three parallel tracks they have followed from the beginning. We have Luke’s account of day-to-day life in the early Church; the ecstatic vision of John of Patmos; and John the Evangelist’s reflections on the relationship between Jesus, the Father, the

The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” We are familiar with a “new day”, a “new start”, even a “new life”. We use those expressions all the time. Sometimes they imply a big change, sometimes not so much. When John sees in his vision (Rev 21:1-5a) a “new

“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” –– Why? Because everything was going great? From what we hear in our first Reading about Paul and Barnabas’s visit to Antioch is doesn’t sound like it (Acts 13:14, 43-52). Sure, there were people who were glad to see them, and maybe more were converted,

Last week we heard the final chapter in John’s gospel. However there is another section which follows after this (which we hear today – Jn 21:1-19). It seems to have been added later by a different author. We might well wonder why. The main focus of this additional section is the role and responsibility of

We prepared for Easter during 40 days of Lent. After Easter the church gives us 50 days to process what just happened! In our readings for this second sunday in Eastertime (Easter Sunday itself being counted as number one), we have displayed a wide range of responses to the Easter event. In the Acts of

Christ has conquered death. We live in the light of the Resurrection. This is wonderful and true, but let us beware a danger lurking here. As we celebrate Christ’s victory over death, we may view the Resurrection as somehow a correction for something that went wrong – death and resurrection, like poison and antidote. Christ

“It is finished.” Today we hear John’s account of Jesus’ passion. As usual he weaves in many, many details. I always feel that if John were writing today he would have produced a screenplay. Given there is such richness in John’s telling of the story it’s easy to overlook what isn’t there. His description of

We come again to our most sacred time of the year, and stand once more with those who have celebrated so many Easters before us, and even more people of God who have and continue to celebrate the Passover (Ex 12:1-8, 11-14). Our celebration connects back to the most ancient roots of a people freed

“We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” Luke in the Acts of the Apostles gives us the most dramatic account of the coming of the Holy Spirit. There is wind and fire and speaking of foreign languages. The sound effects, the big diverse crowds, the intimate interior, the